Peter Dutton is seen as the stronger leader when it comes to defending Australia or growing the country’s economy, a new poll shows.
But Labor’s primary vote this week also rose to 34 per cent, its highest point in more than a year, according to the Newspoll conducted for The Australian.
That figure is 1.4 per cent above Labor’s last election result and its highest primary vote poll result since January 2024.
The Coalition remained at last week’s primary vote of 35 per cent. That means just one point separates the two parties on first preference.
In all, Labor’s primary vote is now three points higher than it was at the start of the year, while the Coalition’s has dropped four points in the same timeframe.
There was no change in the two-party-preferred vote, which remained at 52-48 per cent with Labor leading.
With the Greens remaining unchanged on 12 per cent, the poll suggested a hung parliament after the federal election on May 3 could be a likely outcome.
Mr Dutton was placed ahead of Mr Albanese by a margin of 35 per cent to 23 per cent when voters were asked who would be the better leader to protect Australia’s defences. It came after the two leaders traded blows this week about Russia’s strategic interests in Indonesia.
Labour ‘s primary vote this week also rose to 34 per cent, its highest point in more than a year, according to the Newspoll conducted for The Australian
Mr Dutton was placed ahead of Mr Albanese by a margin of 35 per cent to 23 per cent when voters were asked who would be the better leader to protect Australia’s defences
He was also considered a superior leader to Mr Albanese for growing Australia’s economy, with a margin of 34 per cent to 29 per cent.
Meanwhile, Mr Albanese held a lead over Dutton when it came to the issue of improving healthcare, 42 per cent to 22 per cent.
He was also slightly ahead on the issue of helping with the cost of living, 31 per cent to 28 per cent.
Male voters thought Mr Dutton was the better leader to deal with the cost of living, while female voters backed Mr Albanese.
The prime minister was also seen as the superior leader for lowering taxes, 33 per cent to 26 per cent.
The prime minister appeared to have won on both the tax and housing issues after both parties unveiled their policies this week, with 29 per cent of voters also nominating him as better for helping Australians to buy their first home, compared with Mr Dutton’s 24 per cent.
And on the question of who was the stronger leader to guide Australia through the turbulent times arising from Donald Trump’s US presidency, Mr Albanese also had the upper-hand, with a margin of 39 per cent to 32 per cent.
Women were much more likely to back Mr Albanese in handling Trump than male voters.
